Mary Jane Harves (Turner)

Mary Jane Harves (Turner), age 66, passed away on May 22, 2020. She was born December 2nd, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri to Robert “Bob” Turner and Bootsy Jane Turner (Bateman).

Mary grew up in Independence Missouri with two brothers, Dennis and Roy. She attended Van Horn High School class of 1973. She had a daughter, Maggie, with Ralph Six. She moved to California with Neal Harves, whom she married in May of that year. While in California Mary and Neal had a son, Eric, before moving back to Independence next door to her father Robert.

Mary had many jobs throughout her years. She could possibly be considered a Jack of very many trades. She worked in a family owned muffler shop (Independence Muffler and Brake) with her then husband Neal Harves, the stockyards, retail at Dillards, and owned a Flower shop. She was a courier sometimes delivering priority medical specimens in her little red Corvette. She became an antique expert working alongside her father Robert Turner where she learned selling and repairing antiques and antique glass with her significant other Jerry Grady. She and Jerry Grady drove plow trucks working long nights and through the wintery days clearing the snow. She was also a member of the Vaile Mansion Victorian Society to which she donated many beautiful antique items.

She was strong, stubborn, loving and could light up any room with her sense of humor. She is remembered by her electric smile and the intense love she had for family and friends. Mary was also a confidant for many. She would always lend an ear for anyone who needed it. She was patient and kind and nonjudgmental, offering kind advice, a shoulder to cry on, or the hard truth when needed. Mary would give you her last dollar if she knew it would help.

Mary enjoyed going to vintage car shows with her significant other of 20 years, Jerry. With them they would take their 1955 Chevy. They met many people at these car show who have become very close friends.

Mary enjoyed many things but most of all she had an intense love for her grandchildren. If you ever spoke to Mary she would always tell tales of her grandbabies. What they were up to, accomplishments, or the silly things they do or say. Many summer days you could see her outside playing with her two youngest grandchildren. Building forts, playing with water balloons or just rolling down grassy hills, laughing all the way.

Mary, Jerry and Neal have become very close family, becoming a fundamental part of their grandchildren’s lives and of each others.

She was an integral part of her family and friends lives touching many people and the world is a poorer place without her.

The Harves and Grady families will be planning a Celebration of Life to be announced at a later date.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Robert “Bob” Turner; step-mother, Margie Richardson; mother, Bootsy Jane Bateman; step-father, Harry “Hutch” A. Hutchings; and two uncles, Jackie “Jack” Bateman and William “Bookie” Anderson, Jr. Turner. She is survived by her life partner/husband, Jerry Grady; children, Eric Harves (wife Dusty) and Maggie Six; step-children, Tammy Mallon, Mark Watson and George Watson; two brothers, Dennis Turner and Roy Byler; former husband, Neal Harves; grandchildren, Natasha Watson, Marissa Mallon, Dalton Mallon, Augustus Harves and Adeline Harves; friends and family, Amie Lavaughn Champ, Valerie Matula, Tracey Hilton, Bob Villiard, Mike Pierce, Joe Pace, Rick and Kelly Grady, Terry Fletcher Jr., Bob Reynolds and Jimmy Kalaherka.

Online condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)